Liquid level control mechanism



Dec. 2, 1952 A. J. GARDENHOUR 2,619,906

LIQUID LEVEL comm. MECHANISM Filed Sept. 7, 1944 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 I I lE .:1

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i I INVENTOR.

ALLEN J. 'GARDENHOUR ATTORNEYS.

1952 A. J. GARDENHOUR 2,619,906

I LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL MECHANISM 7 Filed Sept. 7, 1944 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR.

ALLEN J. GARDENHOUR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL MECHANISM Allen J. Gardenhour, Wayncsboro, Pa.

Application September 7, 1944, Serial No. 553,097

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in liquid level control mechanisms.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved liquid level automatic pump control mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved steam boiler automatic water level control mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown different forms of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing the improved liquid level and alarm mechanism associated with means for automatic pump control.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the control mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing the improved liquid level control and alarm mechanism associated as an automatic water level control on steam boilers.

Figure 4: is a wiring diagram of the set up shown in Figure 3.

As a general feature of the liquid level control mechanisms shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, I provide a cylindrical shaped tank 20 having a compartment therein intended to receive liquid from a storage tank or boiler, as the case may be. This tank is pivotally mounted upon a supporting platform or base structure, eccentrically, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, so that when liquid is disposed therein one end of the container will be over balanced, which is the left end as is shown in Figures 1 and 3. I have provided adjusting means to limit the angle or tilt of the container 20, and this consists of an adjusting screw 40 as shown in Figure 1. Also a second screw 42 may be adj ustably threaded in the platform structure, indicated at 24 in Figure 3, and 24 in Figure 1, at the opposite side of the pivot of the tank, for also regulating the degree of tilt of the tank. The second screw may be positioned so that the tank 29 will not be exactly horizontal when it returns to position so that the ball member, which is a weight disposed in the container 20, will roll from the dispensing end of the tank to the opposite end thereof. Means is provided to move the tank after a dispensing or flow of liquid therefrom to a dangerously low level and this consists of a spring fill adjustably connected between the platform and a bracket upon the tank 20. The tension of the spring of course may be increased or decreased.

A switch as shown in Figure 1, or 60 as shown in Figure 3, of the mercury type is mounted upon a bracket of the tank 29 for controlling a circuit. Of course this mercury switch is of the usual detachable type.

In Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism is shown applied to a water storage tank which is automatically pump controlled. The water storage tank I30 is provided with a gauge glass I3I The storage tank has a suitable water inlet connection I32 and any desired outlet connection (not shown). The tank has a compressed air space I53 above the normal water level which is indicated at I34.

The liquid level control tank 253 is mounted upon a bracket structure 24* which is secured to the tank I30 in the manner shown. The tank 20 is connected by a flexible tube I35 With the space I34 of the tank so that the same pressure exists in the container 28 above the liquid level therein as exists in the water storage tank. The outlet duct 23 is connected by flexible tubing I35 with the water storage tank below the normal level of water therein. The mercury bulb 60 is positioned in a clip structure upon the container 20 so that the mercury therein will not close the contacts of the mercury bulb when the level of water in the storage tank is normal; it being intended that the switch will close under influence of the spring 50 which will tilt the container 20 when the level in the water storage tank drops below the desired level. The binding posts 66 are connected by means of wires I 49 leading to an electric motor MI which operates a motion translatin device I42 connected to a pump. The pump is operated by the motor upon closing of the circuit I40 for the purpose of pumping water into the tank thru the line I32.

Figures 3 and 4 show the application of the liquid level control mechanism for automatically controlling the water level in a steam boiler. The steam boiler is indicated at I50 and the liquid level control bracket 24 is mounted upon the steam boiler. A gauge glass I5I is positioned upon the boiler I50. To the bottom thereof the outlet extension 23 is connected by flexible tubing I52. The vent opening of the tank 20 is connected by flexible tubing I53 with the top of the gauge glass I5I so that the same pressure will exist in the top of the tank 20 as exists in the steam boiler above the water level. The mercury switch bulb 60*, during normal level in the steam boiler, is open and only when the water level drops in the steam boiler will the switch close under influence of tilting of the container 20 in the manner above described. In the circuit with the mercury bulb is an electric motor I554. The latter operates a pump I55 for supplying water through line I55 to the boiler. The line I56 may have a check valve 15! therein. The steam boiler may be heated by means of a motor operated burner I10. While the drawing does not show pressure controls for the boiler and room thermostat it is understood, as shown in the wiring diagram of Figure 4, that the circuit I60, in addition to the switch 60 may have other pressure control and room thermostat switches I61 and I62 in any desired number.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of inven-. tion herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims. A r

I claim:

1. In a liquid storage tank control mechanism the combination of a liquid storage tank, motor actuated pump means for supplying liquid to the tank, a pivoted container having a compartment therein, means mounting the container with respect to the tank so that the upper portion of the compartment will lie above the normal desired liquid level in the storage tank, said container mounting means consisting of an eccentric pivot for said container, 2, flexible line connecting the upper portion of the compartment of the container with the storage tank above the liquid level therein, flexible conduit means connecting the lower portion of the compartment of said container with the water storage tank below the pumping water into the storage tank, and coun-' 4 terbalancing means to move the container for closing said switch when the liquid level in the container and tank have dropped below normal. 2. In a liquid level regulating mechanism for steam boilers and the like, the combination of a steam boiler, a pivoted container mounted upon said steam boiler eccentrically between the ends thereof, inlet and outlet connections for the container respectively connected directly with the steam boiler outer compartment above the water level and below the water level, liquid supply water actuated pump means including a circuit, a

movement operated switch for the circuit mounted upon said container for closing the circuit when the level of liquid drops below normal, and counterbalancing means to move the container when the liquid level so drops.

ALLEN J. GARDENHOUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 13,074 Leinert Jan. 4, 1910 308,979 Palmatier Dec. 9, 1884 639,633 Tufts et a1. Dec. 19, 1899 1,065,226 Durdin, Jr June 17, 1913 1,129,334 Cover Feb. 23, 1915 1,467,802 Mainland Sept. 11, 1923 1,502,127 Skidmore July 22, 1924 1,511,432 Skidmore Oct. 14, 1924 1,667,270 Ryder et a1. Apr. 24, 1928 1,880,597 Tweit Oct. 4, 1932 1,924,907 Bower Aug. 29, 1933 1,987,466 Collin Jan. 8, 1935 2,011,608 Belknap Aug. 20, 1935 2,072,425 Eggleston Mar. 2, 1937 2,100,874 Ryan et a1 Nov.30, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 669,368 France Nov. 15, 1929 

